Uniform Language for Misdemeanor Traffic Offense
Summary
Colorado House Bill 1297 passed the Senate on April 6, 2026, establishing uniform statutory language for referencing misdemeanor traffic offenses. The bill, sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators, passed the House 62-0 and received unanimous committee approval in both chambers. The legislation is primarily a definitional and terminological update affecting how courts and law enforcement classify and document certain traffic-related offenses.
What changed
Colorado HB1297 establishes uniform terminology for misdemeanor traffic offenses across state statutes. The bill passed both chambers without amendments and creates no new criminal penalties or substantive changes to how offenses are charged, prosecuted, or sentenced. The legislation is a technical clean-up measure ensuring consistent language in legal documents and court records.
No immediate action is required by regulated entities. Courts and law enforcement agencies should monitor for implementation guidance ahead of the effective date. Criminal defendants facing misdemeanor traffic charges may benefit from clarified statutory references. The bill creates no new compliance obligations or penalties and does not alter existing sentencing frameworks or traffic violation point systems.
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Colorado / HB1297 Passed HB1297 House Bill Passed 2026-03-19
Uniform Language for Misdemeanor Traffic Offense
Concerning using uniform language to reference misdemeanor traffic offenses.
Bill Details
State Colorado
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1297
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Sponsors
Michael Carter (Rep - D) Stephanie Luck (Rep - R) Tony Exum (Sen - D) Janice Rich (Sen - R) Jarvis Caldwell (Rep - R) Chad Clifford (Rep - D) Monica Duran (Rep - D) Cecelia Espenoza (Rep - D) Rebecca Keltie (Rep - R) Jacque Phillips (Rep - D) Ron Weinberg (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-06 S Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments 2026-03-31 S Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole 2026-03-19 S Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 2026-03-16 H House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments 2026-03-13 H House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments 2026-03-12 H House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole 2026-02-25 H Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
Votes
2026-03-12 House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs: Refer House Bill 26-1297 to the Committee of the Whole. Yea: 9 Nay: 2 2026-03-16 House: Third Reading Bill Yea: 62 Nay: 0 2026-03-31 Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs: Refer House Bill 26-1297 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. Yea: 5 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-02-25 H State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs 2026-03-19 S State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
Bill Text Versions
1969-12-31 Introduced 1969-12-31 Engrossed 1969-12-31 Engrossed 1969-12-31 Amended
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